2021 Masters week: They’re coming in hot

Apr 3, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Jordan Spieth tees off on hole 2 during the third round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Jordan Spieth tees off on hole 2 during the third round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jason Kokrak. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Jason Kokrak. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Sungjae Im, 18.20

Im is best known for simply showing up. He’s made 11 starts since last November’s Masters, more than any other player.

Bu the consistent quality of those starts – and especially his recent ones — cannot be overlooked. While he has not recently contended for a championship, Im tied for eighth at the Honda classic, for 17th at the Players, for 21st at the Palmer, for 28th at the Workday and for 17th at the Waste Management.

That’s five top 30s in the last two months.

Im enters the Masters rated 18th in the world. He’s a stroke and a half under par for his last 20 rounds with no missed cuts in his last nine starts.

3. Jason Kokrak, 17.40

Don’t sleep on Kokrak. He’s coming in to the Masters with three straight top 10 finishes, something no other player in the field can say.

Kokrak tied for ninth at the Players, for eighth at the Palmer, and for ninth at the WGC Workday. Throw in a tie for 32nd at the Genesis in February and for 29th at the Farmers and you have a sleeper candidate with momentum.

To the extent there’s a downside, it’s that Kokrak – like Im – has not actually contended. He’s averaging about 1.5 strokes under par since February with a best over that span of 67. So Kokrak isn’t a guy who’s likely to go really, really low.

Still, based on his recent performance the expectation is that Kokrak’s name will be somewhere on the leaderboard this coming weekend.